A Personal Quickie Post ...

  ... Because today is a hard day for me.

It's the eighth anniversary of the day I watched my beloved mother die and the first anniversary of surviving going "cold turkey" off of twelve different drugs. So lots of memories as you can imagine. Yet I am struck with how wonderful God is at taking care of me on a practical, daily, and miraculous level. Someday I must write a book about it, although few would believe the things that have occurred because they are so amazing.

The most miraculous is what cannot be seen with the eyes. The things that have happened inside of me due to SUFFERING! Having Mom die as well as losing every immediate family member in the following 18 months put me into the Grief Pit. 

My total body paralysis (in 2019) and "cold turkey" from 15+ years of narcotic use (with absolutely no medical aid) in 2020 was physical suffering beyond description. Yet I am still alive and happier and freer than I have ever been. Oh, how I wish it didn't take suffering for me to grow and change and learn, but it does. But now I "get it". I see it everywhere and I don't shrink from it. I see and hear you too.

 Right now my fellow Christian Believers (and blog readers) from all around the world are suffering intensely. Some at the hands of their fellow human beings because they are being persecuted and others under attack from satan through health, emotions, and lack of finances.  But take heart in James 5:16.

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

During the first week that I was literally kicking through the worst of my withdrawal I had Dr. Charles Stanley's sermons playing somewhere in the background in the hope it would help me refocus away from the physical agony. One portion of a sermon stands out in my memory, which I went back to listen to later when I was in my right mind again. It's from a radio sermon he did many years ago during Desert Storm and I will share it with you because it is impactful. It is based on James 5:16 and Dr. Stanley says it better than I can express it.

But please know that you are not alone. Jesus is with you. He is mighty and big and we must not limit Him but ask for big and amazing things. He LOVES it when we do this and the needier we are the quicker He is to respond in whatever way we need and even bigger than we can imagine. We are His people, His children and His Bride. He will not abandon us in these Final Days of this used up, evil earth. We are so close. Endure just a little bit longer Beloved.

My "earnest" prayers go out for you too. Daily. You are my Family.

Love always, Laura-Lee

LINK Praying in a Crisis Charles Stanley

LINK The Night Mom Passed Away (former post)

Letter Writing Buffoonery: Edmonton Journal

 

This time I wrote a letter to the editor of my local newspaper, the  Edmonton Journal . The home of such events as minister James Coates being thrown in jail for disobeying COVID-19 lockdown restrictions at his church. This one issue is making worldwide headlines, as is some of our lockdown protests and LGBTQ court cases. The Edmonton Journal is ignoring them, so I decided to send them a letter.

"Our country, province, and city is exploding with anarchy and major issues in an unprecedented way and the Journal is covering Zoning Laws and Big Foot movies. If I want to hear what's going on in Edmonton I go to independent news sources with some as far away as the Middle East, India, and Australia where we and our government are the hot topics. Or I simply head to Youtube to see what my fellow Edmontonians have captured on cell phone cameras.

 I've been reading the Edmonton Journal for fifty years and I'm embarrassed by the implications that you (and your Canadian cohorts) are either incompetent or purposely covering up news and suppressing the truth. I don't like that you are looking like buffoons to the rest of the world. I might not be offended as a reporter, but I am because of basic hometown pride. Aren't you who work there? 

Sincerely, Laura-Lee Rahn

Edmonton, Alberta"

Whether you agree with my views or not you need to take the opportunity to let your voice be heard, while it still can be. It may sound cliché, but Canadians died in wars to keep us free and in generations past reporters went to prison because they wouldn't reveal sources and put themselves in harm's way to get at the truth. They deserve someone to speak up now or the "The true north strong and free" will be boiled down to just "north".

Sincerely, Laura-Lee

Queen Elizabeth's Fickle Family and Followers

 

Being a French Canadian puts me in a unique position in regards to Queen Elizabeth. I've never thought of her as MY Queen yet I've grown up with her influence all over my life. From seeing her face on every piece of currency I've ever touched to listening to her Christmas speeches every year.

But when I look over her long life and the fifty-plus years I've been watching her I tend to look at her kindly and affectionately and even admiringly. Not because I have to or because I was brought up to but because she has EARNED it.

She was put in the line of succession when she didn't want it, didn't get to simply fall in love and choose her husband, given responsibilities that few of us can imagine or comprehend still as a very young woman. Then she lived out her public, private, personal, and professional lives putting herself and her wants and desires SECOND to her own.

Now, during the last few years (or perhaps months) of her life, she must continue to be the sole anchor of her ridiculous and rebellious family. At a time when she should be able to just take it easy and enjoy the company of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren she has to continue to deal with their absurd, derisive shenanigans. And I have a hard time figuring out where her HUGE mistake was that would reap her these continuing consequences.

From scandal after to scandal to her own fickle subjects one minute admiring her and then the next admonishing her, while everyone in the world from the press to everyday people commenting and speculating on her every move. And NOT in very positive ways. Unless they happen to be in a good mood that particular day. And people wonder why she sometimes seems a bit distant and detached emotionally. If I were her I would have taken to my closet in the fetal position sucking my thumb years ago (Okay. Decades ago).

Now with this Harry and Meghan Oprah interview, all I can think is, "Why do this all publicly? If you want to abandon your family and country that's your choice, but just leave your Grandmother in peace? And if you have any problem with  'The Firm', which is also YOUR Family, that you feel is SO great you just have to say something, why not just pick up the phone and have a talk with whatever family member you have an issue with?" 

Just like the rest of us would do.

In the end, all I can give is my own humble opinion of this elderly, dignified lady. To finally add my voice to the other kajillion opinions for whatever it's worth. And I will say it as if I had the ear of the Queen herself.

"You won me over somewhere down the line and if I believed in having a Queen over me, I would pick you. Always remember no matter how old you are, how many family members abandon and betray you, how much you are in charge of or how many subjects you reign over, one truth remains. You are always your Heavenly Father's little girl first and foremost. He knows you better than you even know yourself and loves you just as you are. Your song has become my prayer.

'God, save our noble Queen. God, save our gracious Queen. God, save the Queen. Amen.' "😔

Love always, Laura-Lee

TRYING to Stop the Rot

 

I've been at my letter writing again. This time after visiting the website of my little Christian high school, Vancouver Christian School which I have told stories about throughout the years to entertain and inspire the people in my life.

I just viewed a February 2021 Newsletter to discover they were celebrating  the Chinese New Year complete with astrological symbols and demon dragon costumes. I sent  the following letter, for whatever it's worth, and move on with a clear conscience but downcast heart for how far that sweet school has fallen. And to all of the former board members, teachers, parents and fellow students that sacrificed to see that this school kept going to inspire their children and glorify God, I am heart sick over this and deeply sorry.

"You've got to be kidding me!

I attended and graduated from Vancouver Christian School from 1980-85. The first year it opened at your location was the first year I attended. I suppose that makes me one of your pioneers. I come here every few months to read a newsletter and see how you are doing. As I've watched through the years I've gone from anxious to concerned to distressed at the course you've plotted and followed. I usually write something in an effort to be salt and light for Jesus and uphold the standards of those who founded the school and all of us who made many sacrifices in order that we might have a Christ-centered education.

But this time I opened up the most recent newsletter and saw the photo of CHILDREN celebrating the Chinese New Year which is so blatantly anti-Christian all I can think is, "Welcome to the End Times".

I feel there is very little point in writing to you because if all your teachers and board members don't know that you're doing wrong, then you are too far gone for me to explain it. And if you DO know that you're doing wrong and are purposefully doing it anyway, then Jesus have mercy on you. You are going to need it.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea." Mark 9:42

You know what, I was following Jesus and reading the Bible before most of you were even born, so spare me whatever pathetic rationalism you were planning to respond with. I was compelled to speak up. I've done so, now I'm moving on. See you on Judgement Day.

Sincerely, Laura-Lee Rahn (1980 -1985)"

"For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.." (Revelation 3:17)

Article from the Evangelical Times

A Chinese Christian looks at the Celebration of the Chinese New Year.

https://www.evangelical-times.org/25472/chinese-new-year-a-christian-perspective/

LINK to Vancouver Christian School

https://vancs.org/

ALUMNI BLOG I STARTED FOR MY HIGH SCHOOL MORE THAN A DECADE AGO.

http://vcssalumni.blogspot.com/2010/